Four File For 2 Seats In Bradley Beach Race
By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
Four Bradley Beach residents, including two former Borough Council members and the two incumbents, have filed petitions to run for the two open council seats in the upcoming election Nov. 4.
The filing deadline is Sept. 11 at 4 p.m.
Former Councilmen Benjamin Waters and Sal Galassetti are challenging Councilmen George Bachar and Norm Goldfarb, who were both appointed in July to fill the vacant seats.
One seat was vacated by Julie Schreck who became mayor and the other by Thomas Volante who resigned at the July 1 meeting.
Galassetti, who was on the council from 1992 to 1998 and ran unsuccessfully for mayor against Stephen Schueler four years later, said, “It’s just time to throw my hat in the ring again. I like government and the way it operatates…sometimes.”
Galassetti said he was born and raised in Bradley Beach.
“My roots are here,” he said. “My heart and soul is in Bradley Beach.”
Galassetti said many improvements have been made in the borough since he left office, but he is concerned about the amount of debt the town has been left with.
“One main reason I am rumming is our town is a litlle bit in debt right now,” he said.
Referring to the major aesthic improvements made in town he said, “Being a taxpayer, things are looking good, but the whole thing is trying to pay down your debt.”
Galassetti currently works for Salad Works helping to improve stores showing declining profits.
Waters, who served one council term, ran for unsuccessfully for a second term. He also was defeated in his bid for mayor earlier this year. He has been critical of the current administration.
“It only took them five months to come up with a budget,” he said referring to the delay in the budgets introduction.
He also did not agree with the borough’s Visitors Appreciation Days on Wednesdays in August, saying, “They gave back one day for every two…and who did it help, it didn’t help with the seniors or the year round residents.”
Waters said he has recently received “hundreds” of emails and phone calls urging him to run once again.
A total of eight candidate packets were requested, according to Borough Clerk Mary Ann Solinski.
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